Volvo Technology Award for fuel-saving “autopilot” for trucks

The I-See system reduces fuel consumption for long-distance transport by up to 5%. Four Volvo Group employees, responsible for developing the solution, receive the Volvo Technology Award for 2013.

The prize was presented to Anders Eriksson, Johan Bjernetun , Henrik Andersson, and Johan Axelsson, all from Volvo Group Trucks Technology, on April 4 by Olof Persson, President and CEO, in conjunction with AB Volvo’s Annual General Meeting.

“I-See helps our customers reduce their fuel costs, while reducing the impact on the environment. The development of I-See has resulted in seven patents and is an example of really top-class engineering work,” says Olof Persson.

I-See could be compared with an autopilot that handles gear-changes, throttle and brakes on gradients in the most fuel-efficient manner possible.

The first time a truck equipped with I-See drives on a hilly road, the topography information is stored in

the truck for the next trip, and a wireless dispatch is also conveyed to a central server. When another truck equipped with I-See is about to drive the same stretch, the system will automatically obtain the information from the server and ensure that the hills are negotiated in the best possible manner the first time.

“I-See utilizes the vehicle’s kinetic energy to accelerate at the right time prior to the ascent to reduce the number of downshifts, while disengaging the vehicle just before reaching the brow of the hill and utilizes the energy perfectly for braking down the next hill,” explains Anders Eriksson, who headed the development group.

Torbjörn Holmström, Chief Technology Officer of the Volvo Group, was present at the award ceremony.

“Pioneering technology like this will help our customers in their business. At the same time it takes the Volvo Group one step further towards our vision to become the world leader in sustainable transport solutions and it shows the world the innovation power in our technology community.”